Two critically lauded recent Japanese films will be shown as part of free Japanese cultural activities Thursday through Mar. 28 at the University of the Virgin Islands, also including an exhibition of ikebana, the traditional Japanese art of flower arrangement, by renowned ikebana artist Mrs. Nobue Miyauchi, and a show of Japanese stamp art.
"Village of Dreams" is the 16th film by director Yoichi Higachi, a recollection of the rural childhood of two mischievous, artistically inclined identical twins that is based on Seizo Tashima's memoir. In The New York Times, Stephen Holden called it an "unusual film that captures the rhythms and moods of childhood with an intensity that transports you back in time."
The 1996 film captured the prestigious Silver Bear award at that year's Berlin Film Festival. It will be shown at the Reichhold Center for the Arts at 7 p.m. Sunday and at the UVI St. Croix Student Activities Center on Tuesday, Mar. 27 at 10 a.m.
Hirokazu Kore-eda's 1999 "After Life" asks the question: What is our single most treasured memory? In a purgatory-like way station, newly passed arrivals are asked to choose just one memory; a film will be made to reenact that memory and each person will pass into eternity with just that memory, forgetting all else.
In his four-star review, Chicago Sun-Times critic Roger Ebert said: "With this film and the 1997 masterpiece 'Maborosi,' (Kore-eda) has earned the right to be considered with Kurosawa, Bergman and the other great humanists of the cinema…. It is like a transcendent version of 'Ghost,' evoking the same emotions but deserving them."
"After Life" will be shown only on St. Croix at the Student Activities Center at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Mar. 27.
Ikebana is more than simply floral decoration; it is a disciplined art form in which the arrangement is a living thing in which nature and humanity are brought together. It is steeped in the philosophy of developing a spiritual closeness with nature.
Mrs. Miyauchi opened her own ikebana school in Japan and has been the director of Ikebana International's head office. She has held prestigious positions throughout the art world and is the recipient of numerous awards and honors. Mrs. Miyauchi promotes simplicity and casual manner in her works and many people shared her ideas through overseas flower exhibitions, demonstrations and lessons, as well as TV, hotel and window displays. Her unique ideas and originality make the best use of wild flowers, vegetables, grasses, trees and the tools of everyday life in her arrangements.
Mrs. Miyauchi will conduct an ikebana exhibition at 5:30 p.m. Monday in the VIP Room of the UVI Sports & Fitness Center on St. Thomas; and at 5:30 p.m. on March 28 at the St. Croix Student Activities Center.
Because of space limitations, preregistration is required for the ikebana exhibitions: On St. Croix call Stella Saunders at 692-4023 by March 26 or e-mail ssaunde@uvi.edu. On St. Thomas, call Raul Carrillo at 693-1053 by March 23 or e-mail rcarril@uvi.edu.
The Japanese stamp art exhibition consists of selected panels depicting historic and modern paintings. The exhibit will be shown at the St. Thomas Campus Library and the St. Croix Student Activities Center from Thursday, March 22nd through Wednesday March 28th. The historic panels will be hosted on St. Croix and the modern panels on St. Thomas. The exhibition should be of interest to art lovers, those with an appreciation of world cultures and especially stamp collectors.
The events are sponsored by the Consulate General of Japan in New York, the Japan Foundation and the University of the Virgin Islands. In attendance from the Consulate General of Japan's New York office, will be the Honorable Joji (George) Hisaeda, deputy consul, Mr. Shingo Okazaki, consul, and Ms. Yukiko Abe, vice consul. Also in attendance will be Mr. Sumitomo Horiuchi, director of the Japan Foundation's New York Office.
All events are free to the public. For more information, call 693-1053 on St. Thomas and 692-4023 on St. Croix. For more on the University of the Virgin Islands, visit the Web site at www.uvi.edu.
